Councilman: ‘Israeli War Crimes’ bus ads go too far

A King County Councilman says planned advertisements on Metro buses from a group that is critical of Israel are inappropriate.

Councilman Peter von Reichbauer on Monday wrote to Executive Dow Constantine about his concerns, saying he’d been contacted by people who were worried about the ads from the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign. The advertising on Metro buses would read: “Israeli War Crimes Your Tax Dollars At Work.” (UPDATE: Constantine has ordered a review of Metro policy).

“We do not have to reflect long in time to remember that on July 28, 2006 a mad man broke into the Seattle Jewish Federation building shooting six women, one fatally, and now I ask the question why a public transportation system would advertise polarizing political statements,” von Reichbauer wrote. “I am a strong advocate of freedom of speech and a strong believer of common sense. And I believe very strongly that dangerous language can create dangerous environments in a society. I believe that this proposed bus advertising needs to be reviewed and reevaluated. For $1,800 on December 27, twelve buses will begin advertising material that can incite a ‘breach of public safety, peace and order.'”

In January of this year Naveed Haq was sentenced to life without parole for the Jewish Federation shootings.

Ed Mast, a spokesman for the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, told KING5 that the ads were meant to get people talking about Mideast peace issues, not as an anti-Israel statement.

King County Metro’s policy about bus advertising restricts messages about pornography, tobacco and alcohol and images and material that could threaten public safety. Metro officials have said the ads about Israel do not violate Metro’s advertising policy.